Gunmen attack Catholic church in Gombe

 Again, gunmen yesterday, Sunday, August 12 attacked the All Saints Catholic Church, Kanoyel, Gombe State, killing a policeman who was on duty at the church.
The presence of policemen on guard prevented massive casualties in the attack from the gun-totting terrorists.

This attack came as the soldiers of Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State, killed 20 terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram sect members during an invasion and subsequent shootout in their hideout on Saturday night in Maiduguri, the state capital.
It was learnt that the gunmen arrived at the church premises in Gombe when the parishioners were coming out of the early morning service and fired at the policemen.
The source said the gunmen made futile attempts to gain entry into the church after the parishioners shut the gate.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Williams Ochai, said that the gunmen opened fire on the policemen guarding the church during the mass.
“As soon as the parishioners heard the gun shots, they immediately shut the gate to the church,” Ochai said.
He, however, said one of the policemen died instantly while the other sustained serious injuries.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Gombe State, Rev. Abare Kalla, described it as unfortunate.
Kalla said CAN had information that there would be an attack, but did not know where it would occur.
The chairman said that the aim of the attackers was to gain entry into the church but they could not succeed because of the fence.
He confirmed that a policeman was killed in the incident while another sustained injuries.